The Connection to land, spirit and the Environment

1. The Connection to land, spirit and the Environment Using Indigenous Perspectives to Create an understanding of other ways of knowing

2. Who Am I, and Why is this Important to me?

3. Introduction • Intent and our approach to land • Sustainability and the role of Spirit • Understanding of 'Indigenous' • Smudge and offering

4. Context, Significance within Contemporary Issues

5. Bio Cultural Framework

6. History- The Living Past

7. Inspiration – Sources of Knowledge • The Lived experience

8. Indigenous Knowledge: Holistic Approaches and Practical Knowledge • Linking Metaphysical and Physical • Connection to Land • The “Five R”s

9. Jellyware

11. Carol Schaefer (2006) in “Bridging Cultures: Indigenous and Science Ways of Knowing Nature”, which talks about relational connection and the ‘sprit of knowing’ the Earth; “MitakuyeOyasin acknowledges that within each person exists the entire universe: all who have ever lived and all who are living now, and are yet to be born, as well as nature- Our Mother Earth, the sun, moon, planets, and all the stars- all of the Scared Universe since the beginning and until the end of time… we are all cosmic beings. We come from the stars”. ‘MitakuyeOyasin’ means, “All my Relations” in Lakota, the idea is that everything is alive and has knowledge and we as individuals are all living in relational existence to one and other and to that knowledge (Schaefer 2006).

12. Hardware – A Space that feeds the spirit • Environmental psychology

15. Question; • Where is the Great Good Place of your Heart?